Envisioning what is possible for the future of the Foundation is both a pleasure and a privilege. Meanwhile we're making steady progress to provide more resources and programs for our educational, research and service missions to optimize eye health and promote excellence in eye care. In the weeks and months ahead, you will see the Foundation moving more and more into the public eye in our community and region. Our goal is to serve the general public and eye care professionals as we work together to maximize eye health for all ages.
Looking ahead to September and October, the Foundation will support our eye care professionals by sponsoring Journal Club for ophthalmologists. For optometrists, we will help to support two programs-SDOS's Fall Convention in Rap!d City on September 21-22 and BHREI's conference on October 13th.
For the general public, you will find the Foundation actively promoting World Sight Day on October 11th in conjunction with "Vision 2020" and the Rapid City Public Library. This year's theme, "Our VISION for Children", focuses on the impact of vision loss and blindness in children. Few know the world-wide statistics that "a child goes blind every single minute" and that "75% of all blindness could be treated, cured or prevented by highly cost effective means" according to the World Health Organization. Education can help to decrease these numbers, which will be our emphasis during the week surrounding World Sight Day (come to any of the story times at the library on October 9th and 11th or to "Lunch and Learn" on October 17th-the library will be highlighting the new books and materials relating to eye health and eye care made possible by a grant from NPEF). Look for a new resource list in our soon-to-be updated website - www.npef.org - which will also boast many other new features such as the new Kidz Korner with links to wonderful interactive resources for children of all ages!
Looking back, you'll see the high points of the Spring and Summer sprinkled throughout this newsletter. We worked on "Setting a Higher Standard", when we integrated new, more-detailed learning about eye health at the second grade level (we were co-presenters for 7th graders at West Middle School too). Ultimately our plan is to have educational programs in place at the 2nd, 7th and 11th grade levels, which will only be realized as more eye care professionals partner with us by joining our Speaker's Bureau to broaden this outreach. We promoted "Healthy Vision Month" in May in several venues, teaching about early detection of glaucoma. In June, we exhibited at Storybook Island at Health and Safety Day, with a special focus on children's eye health and safe summer celebrations (see "Storybook Scenes"). In teaching children, we've found resources from the National Eye Institute especially helpful, which you'll find in our "Spotlight on Resources" column.
As a non-profit. our goal is to serve. Don't hesitate to let us know how we can be of assistance to you! At the same time, know that there is little we can do without your continued help and support. Thanks for joining us in our efforts!
Envisioning what is possible for the future of the Foundation is both a pleasure and a privilege. Meanwhile we're making steady progress to provide more resources and programs for our educational, research and service missions to optimize eye health and promote excellence in eye care. In the weeks and months ahead, you will see the Foundation moving more and more into the public eye in our community and region. Our goal is to serve the general public and eye care professionals as we work together to maximize eye health for all ages.